Black-figure lekythos

On the surface of this black-figure lekythos, dating to 500 BC, a vivid scene of Herakles fighting the Nemean lion is depicted.

At the suggestion of the Oracle of Delphi, Herakles, the most popular hero of antiquity, had to serve Eurystheus, King of Argos. This was in expiation for Herakles’ murder of his own children. The king assigned him twelve dangerous missions, the so-called ‘Twelve Labours of Herakles’, the first of which was to get rid of the Nemean lion.

The scene is attended by Athena to the right, and to the left by two male figures, probably the god Hermes and a warrior.